Wednesday 27 May 2015 10:28, UK
Marco Botti is eyeing an autumn campaign for Tac De Boistron - irrespective of whether he runs in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
The smart stayer will be aimed at races such as the Irish St Leger, the Prix du Cadran and the Prix Royal-Oak when he returns from a summer break.
Botti is praying for rain so Tac De Boistron can take his chance in the Gold Cup on June 18, especially after he was a late withdrawal from the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp on Sunday because the ground had dried out.
"We will wait for Ascot now after missing Longchamp," said the Newmarket trainer.
"We didn't enter him at Sandown (for the Henry II Stakes on Thursday) because we decided it was one or the other.
"We will see what happens with the ground. If it is too quick we will take our time and wait for the Irish St Leger and races like that.
"I don't want to keep him in fast work all the summer with the uncertainty of the ground.
"He has a lot of options in the latter part of the season - the Irish St Leger, the Cadran and the Prix Royal-Oak.
"The Gold Cup is three weeks away, so we will keep him fit and see what happens with the weather at Ascot."
